Toronto Blue Jays probable pitchers & starting lineups vs. Washington Nationals, April 1

Don't look now, but the Toronto Blue Jays are within a game of first place of the American League East.

Who cares that this is the first full week of the season and the team is just now starting its second turn through the rotation? Baseball's a long season, so it's important to celebrate the good times, but there's always a big slump right around the corner.

The Blue Jays will look to stop that slump from coming when they take on the Washington Nationals late tonight. First pitch is scheduled for 7:07 p.m. EDT at Rogers Centre. The game will be available to stream on Sportsnet.

Probable starting pitchers

José Berríos (0-1, 10.80 ERA, 5 K) vs. Trevor Williams

Berríos will get his first chance to put his rough Opening Day behind him with today's start against the Nationals. He allowed six earned runs in five innings on Opening Day, and became the third Blue Jays pitcher to allow three or more home runs on Opening Day. This will be his fourth career start against the Nationals; he's gone 1-1 with a 3.50 ERA in 18 innings in his previous three starts against the franchise.

He doesn't have a ton of experience against the Nationals' lineup. Amed Rosario has the most career at-bats against him of anyone on the roster (1-for-10), while Paul DeJong and Keibert Ruiz have both hit home runs against him.

He'll be going against Williams, who will be making his season debut at the back of Washington's rotation. He's coming off a spring where he allowed six earned runs in 16 1/3 innings and was built up to 100 pitches. He's made one career start against the Blue Jays, where he allowed three earned runs in six innings in 2017.

Toronto Blue Jays starting lineup, April 1

• 1. SS Bo Bichette
• 2. 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
• 3. DH Anthony Santander
• 4. 2B Andrés Giménez
• 5. C Alejandro Kirk
• 6. CF George Springer
• 7. DH Will Wagner
• 8. 3B Ernie Clement
• 9. RF Alan Roden

The Blue Jays are going with essentially the same lineup they did yesterday, with the only new face being Clement at third. Wagner started at third yesterday but he'll slide over to DH.

Giménez is once again in the cleanup spot the day after smacking his third home run of the year. While Bichette, Guerrero and Santander have all put together good at-bats to start the season, neither of them have hit a home run yet, so Giménez's power surge is much needed.